ISRAEL’S REBELLION
Hosea 7:1-16
When they go, I will throw my net over them; I will pull them down like the birds in the sky. When I hear them flocking together, I will catch them. (12)
chapter 7
1. whenever I would heal Israel, the sins of Ephraim are exposed and the crimes of Samaria revealed. They practice deceit, thieves break into houses, bandits rob in the streets;
2. but they do not realize that I remember all their evil deeds. Their sins engulf them; they are always before me.
3. "They delight the king with their wickedness, the princes with their lies.
4. They are all adulterers, burning like an oven whose fire the baker need not stir from the kneading of the dough till it rises.
5. On the day of the festival of our king the princes become inflamed with wine, and he joins hands with the mockers.
6. Their hearts are like an oven; they approach him with intrigue. Their passion smolders all night; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
7. All of them are hot as an oven; they devour their rulers. All their kings fall, and none of them calls on me.
8. "Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is a flat loaf not turned over.
9. Foreigners sap his strength, but he does not realize it. His hair is sprinkled with gray, but he does not notice.
10. Israel’s arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this he does not return to the LORD his God or search for him.
11. "Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived and senseless - now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria.
12. When they go, I will throw my net over them; I will pull them down like the birds in the sky. When I hear them flocking together, I will catch them.
13. Woe to them, because they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, because they have rebelled against me! I long to redeem them but they speak about me falsely.
14. They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail on their beds. They slash themselves, appealing to their gods for grain and new wine, but they turn away from me.
15. I trained them and strengthened their arms, but they plot evil against me.
16. They do not turn to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of their insolent words. For this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. The Word of God through Hosea reveals the rebellion of Israel precisely in four parts here.
2. Firstly, they sinned regardless of God’s Holiness. Ignoring that God is always watching, they did not hesitate to steal, rob, and lie to get little benefits of the world (3). Secondly, they embraced the passions of their flesh. They gave themselves to eat, drink, and indulge in sin, forgetting to worship the Lord, their God (7). Thirdly, they sought rescue from other men rather than living before God. Despite all the suffering under the foreign power, Israel was too proud to return to God. Instead, they now wanted to turn to Egypt and Assyria for rescue, nations that were waiting for a chance to prey on them (13). Fourthly, they became enemies of God as they turned to idols (14). Their ridiculous way of hurting themselves to appeal to the idols instead of crying out to their Lord God for rescue deeply hurt God’s heart.
3. However, God does not easily give up on them. He says he will throw a net over them as they fly away like doves. We may not like his grip on us sometimes, but the good news is that he does not give up on us.
Prayer: Father, thank you for holding onto me with your strong hands when I was so rebellious toward you. Help me to give up my pride and turn to you each day for your love and mercy.
One Word: I give up my rebellion and pride